PTI chairman Gohar Ali criticises NAB, questions extension for chairman

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Thursday criticised the functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), alleging that the anti-corruption body had remained controversial and had been used for political engineering.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, he said there must be an institution to combat corruption but questioned the government’s decision to grant an extension to the head of an institution whose chairman, he said, was originally appointed jointly by the government and the opposition.

Gohar Ali also referred to earlier claims that corruption cases involving amounts below Rs50 million would not be pursued, adding that such legislation had not been enacted anywhere in the world.

He said public trust in institutions had eroded and claimed that confidence in the judiciary had also declined. The PTI chairman noted that the tenure of the NAB chairman had ended on Thursday, while legislation regarding the matter had been passed by the Senate.

Commenting on legal cases against PTI’s founder, Imran Khan, Gohar Ali expressed hope that relief would be granted in the courts. He said the party was still grateful that the cases involving the PTI founder were being heard in court.

He also criticised a documentary reportedly made about former chief justice Qazi Faez Isa, calling it incorrect. Gohar Ali said PTI had earlier filed a review petition against decisions associated with the former chief justice.

Regarding political dialogue, he said the PTI founder had called for talks and that Mahmood Khan Achakzai had been authorised to negotiate, but questioned with whom the negotiations would take place.